Protect watershed areas: Mayor

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan has stressed the need to protect watershed areas like the one in Barangay Sapangbato here.

The mayor issued the statement during the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the local government, Sibul Ning Aeta Foundation, Incorporated, and Converge ICT Solutions, Incorporated Monday.

The agreement is focused on the protection, conservation and development of the Sapangbato Watershed, Pamintuan said.

The city’s Task Force 1-Million Trees, an extension program of the mayor for environmental protection, has monitored the status of the watershed area.

Their reports have led them to believe that in 10 to 15 years, water supply in the area will be depleted.

According to Pamintuan, the MOA will ensure that the issues surrounding the watershed will be properly and promptly addressed.

"Our partnership with Sibul and Converge is truly appreciated, and we look forward to working with them more in the future regarding the development of this watershed," the mayor said.

He added that this thrust is part of the city’s staunch commitment to PPP or private-public partnership for development.

"I believe that this project is a manifestation of our steadfast dedication for the development of our city through our partnership with several non-government agencies and businesses. In turn, such projects also fulfill their respective corporate social responsibilities," Pamintuan said.

To ensure the sustainability of the watershed preservation, a tree-planting program was implemented by the city in cooperation with the CICTS.

Dennis Anthony Uy, chairman of CICTS, shared how the ICT firm managed to look into environmental protection.

"Technology is moving fast, but this is not a reason for us to forget our environment. Our world is changing, and this is a wake-up call for us to plant more trees on every available lot there is," Uy said.

"We saw the mayor's program for environmental preservation, specifically the 1-Million trees project, and we saw how vital and effective it can be, which is why we decided to support it," the trader added.

Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting lauded the efforts of the two companies.

"In behalf of the local government, we would like to thank Sibul and Converge for showing their initiative and interest in planting more trees that would help preserve our watershed. All over the world, companies like them are going back to the basics, and we are happy for that," said Cabigting.

"If we are to always disregard our role as care-takers of the environment, then we wouldn't have a world to live in," the vice mayor reminded the residents.

An "adopt-a-tree" scheme was also launched to encourage citizens and other groups to help in the development of the watershed.

Target communities within Sapangbato are Sitio Calang, Sitio Target, Sitio Dudurot, Sitio Palusapis, Sitio Palutput, Sitio Pasbul, Sitio Tagulod and Sitio Papatak.

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